Fender '64 Vibroverb Custom

New in 2004, I have used it 4 years now.
Few gadgets here, this was a top AB763 circuit pro amp in 1964
Custom Shop added a Diaz mod which I do not use.
Billed as an SRV Texas blues/rock amp it reproduces other
sounds as well or better. I use it for electric arch-top jazz.

I use several different arch-top guitars with both humbucker and
single coil pick-ups. Following Fender's suggestion for Jazz the Bass is 5, treble is 0 but I play through the reverb circuit into #1 input w/verb set around 2 1/2. I usually use neck pick-up with tone rolled ON.
The signal through this hand-wired circuit and out through the solid pine mounted 15" speaker is beautiful, deep rich and reproduces musical dynamics very well. The 3-D sound is only matched by
other similar amps. I have not heard a solid-state or hybrid amp
yet that is as pleasing to the ear as a quality p2p type tube amp.
You want to keep playing and your audience will dig the sound.
It is a pro tool to reproduce the voice of you and your guitar and the whole train from your mind to the speaker must be continuous. If this last statement makes sense then amps like these are for you. You must know how to use it or learn how to use it. This amp does have
a bit of hissssssss at idle which is easily ignored. Background room noise covers it. Tremelo is weak. Reverb is very good.

The amp is as dependable as as an amp can be. One n.o.s. Philips 6L6 that I had installed fried because of faulty tube construction. I replaced the power tubes and a fuse, problem solved. The stock
power tubes are pretty good but I use an old RCA 12ax7a in V1
and an old Mullard 12at7 as a phase splitter... helps carry the
signal in a good way.

Years ago someone who answered the phone at Fender directed me to a couple of repair centers about an hour drive away to fix a problem with a 1988 red-knob twin that I owned.
Some if not most employees will try to be helpful but Fender is
a huge corporation, dont expect it to be easy and you will not be disappointed.
This amp has had no problems requiring an amp technician.

Playing guitar since early 1970's
I also currently use a VOX AC30 (made in England) awesome tone for electric blues and an Acoustic Image Clarus R solid-state head which is very light weight and decent pro sound.
No hates about this amp and I like the sound...alot. If lost or stolen I would buy again if the Custom Shop still makes it or I would find one of the boutique blackface style amps.
I wish it had a mid EQ but I work around that.
I would like to see Fender use higher quality parts all around.
It took about 50+ playing hours to warm up and smooth out and it seems to sound better as time goes on.
The '64 Vibroverb Custom is a wonderful tool in the hands of a musician who can use it.

'64 Fender Vibroverb Custom combo amp.

This amp is nothing more than a weaker 60 watt version of a Fender Twin with a 15" speaker, but for DOUBLE the price tag. The features are standard, which I think is very limited considering the price tag.

I tried one of these at the local Guitar Center. For the price I was not impressed with the sound. For $2,400.00 I expect a lot more than this amp has to offer. I am curious about all the "rave" reviews given this amp by other people in this category. I did not find this Vibroverb Custom amp worth the price, and certainly not worth the praise. But, if you have $2,400.00 to throw away, this is the toy for you. There are a LOT of better amps in this high price range.

I have never had any reliability problems with Fender tube amps. I have a 66 Bandmaster amp and an old Twin Reverb. Both still work very well after all of these years.

Never called them.

I think Fender is asking WAY TOO MUCH for this amp. It is essentially a weaker version of a Fender Twin with a 15" speaker rather than 2 12's.

Why would anyone in their right mind pay exactly DOUBLE the price for this amp? Here is a much less expensive and viable alternative. It is also what I have:

Buy a Twin Reverb for $1,200.00. That is HALF the price of the Vibroverb. The Twin has 20 more watts of power, and has the SAME reverb and tremelo.

Then, buy a Bass amp extension speaker. I bought an Ampeg SVT-115E extension speaker. It is a 15" speaker in a solid cab with casters and handles 200 watts at 8 ohms. You can plug the "external speaker" jack on the back of your Twin into the Ampeg (or any other cab you choose)cab and either run them both together or temporarily unplug the internal cable and run just the extension cab.

You get essentially the same thing this way, BUT, you save around $800.00 and have more options.

Now, What can you buy with that leftover $800.00 you save by getting a Twin and an extension cabinet?

It's your money. If I had the $2,400.00 plus tax to spend on an amp, I'd want a LOT more amp for my money. Like a 100+ watt Marshal Half or full Stack !!!